I was running late for a lunch date with friends, but I had to stop. The artists, Hannah Gumbo and Terez Molitor, were hard at work painting this bright and cheerful mural. A little while later, they stopped for lunch at the same cafe. I was able to get their names and thank them for their tireless work on the mural. They both lit up. Creating this art brought them joy. And now it will bring joy to passers-by. Public art is for everyone!
Can you write a small poem inspired by this photo? Join us in the comments. After you write, be sure to stop back by to leave some comment love on other writers’ poems. Together we are creating art with words.
At Ethical ELA Verselove, Leilya inspires us to write a tricube poem. This form is 3 stanzas of 3 lines with 3 syllables each.
Mural Art
In spring, red
dances with
yellow light.
Buds become
butterfly,
bee feeders.Painted walls
fill my heart
with delight.
Margaret Simon, draft
The Kidlit Progressive Poem is with Tricia today.
Reflections on the Teche 
Sorry about that.
buildings bloom
Sorry about that.
buildings bloom
Sorry about that.
buildings bloom
Sorry about that.
buildings bloom
Sorry about that.
buildings bloom
Trying one more time.
buildings bloom
in a red, blue, and yellow
feast for the eyes
I’m glad this comment finally worked. I deleted the other ones. Definitely a “feast for the eyes”. I love “buildings bloom” as well. Thanks for sticking with it.
Thank you Margaret!
Sent from my iPhone
Rose, “buildings bloom” is a beautiful play on words and nic alteration. Feast for the eyes is a strong surprise ending. Love your poem.
Margaret, beautiful ekphrastic tricube about this lovely mural. The beauty of that second stanza–it tells so much with all the bee words and so few syllables.
Rainbow of
colors meld
into blooms
of joyful
handiwork–
delighting,
reviving,
bringing life
to this place
I love how you ended with the revival of an old building. That is the joy of mural art!
Denise, you hooked me with rainbow. I love the way you used the word “meld” in rainbow of / colors meld / into blooms. Nice enjambment bringing the reader into “of joyful / handiwork-” and “handiwork” is a good choice. Ooh, I love your 3 /ing/ words “delighting/ reviving, / bringing live / to this place. Great word choice “reviving” and definition bringing live to this place. Beautiful poem.
What a delightful form. Here’s my ode to flowers…
Arms open
We greet Spring
With a smile.
Welcoming
Visitors
One and all
To join us
in color
and in dance.
Diane, thanks for writing today. I love how you used the form to open your arms wide to spring!
Diane, “Arms open” immediately invited me into your tricube. I love “greet spring / with a smile.” Nice alliteration in we, with, and welcoming. I like that you invite the reader and everyone “in color / and in dance.” Beautiful.
Diane, I love your warm and welcoming poem. Especially “in color / and in dance” Beautiful! I hope you will join us at Ethical ELA and add your poem there with the other spring haiku. https://www.ethicalela.com/when-spring-speaks-in-tricubes/
Margaret, both your tricube and the mural are beautiful. I love your personification “In spring, red dances with/ yellow light.” Wow, on your second stanza! Love your play on words, your alliteration, and your short /u/ rhyme! I love how you internalize the third stanza showing how the mural “painted walls” brings joy to you “fill my heart / with delight. Earlier I peeked at your photo without reading about it and I was forming a haiku in my head. However, I will try to write a tricube in my journal, which is always a good challenge for me. Thank you for your inspiration and going back to the photo.
art speaks
spring blooms
brighten us
Gail Aldous, draft
I like how you used the sp sound. I believe art speaks. It certainly instills hope.